Navigation satellite INRSS-1I put into orbit, ISRO calls it a success

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation’s navigation satellite INRSS-1I was on Thursday launched by PSLV-C41 from the spaceport in Sriharikota and successfully placed in the designated orbit. PSLV-C41/IRNSS-1I Mission blasted off at 4.04 am from the first launchpad at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre. ISRO officials called it a normal lift-off. The PSLV injected the satellite into orbit 19 minutes after lift-off from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre.

Calling the mission a success, ISRO Chairman K Sivan congratulated the scientists behind it. He said IRNSS-1I was successfully placed in the designated orbit.

IRNSS-1I is expected to replace IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven navigation satellites, that was rendered ineffective after its three rubidium atomic clocks failed. The seven satellites are part of the NavIC navigation satellite constellation. The launch is ISRO’s second attempt at sending a replacement satellite.

The previous mission of a PSLV carrying IRNSS-1H in August failed in 2017 after the heat shield covering the satellite failed to separate.

The IRNSS-1I mission comes two weeks after the space agency launched GSAT-6A on board GSLV Mk-II. Though the rocket placed GSAT-6A in orbit, the ISRO had lost communication with the satellite within two days.